Question

Brinjal and potato belong to the same genus Solanum, but to two different species. What defines them as separate species?

Answer 1

Definition :

• Genus: Species exhibiting similar characters comprise a genus.
• Species: Related organisms with shared common characters and capable of interbreeding

Explanation :

• Members of different species are distinguished on the basis that they are incapable of interbreeding.
• Brinjal and potato belong to the same genus as they exhibit similar characters in terms of phyllotaxy, venation etc, as they cannot interbreed to produce fertile offspring they belong to separate species.